Thesis title: Architettura protobizantina in Albania: dalla fine del IV agli albori del VII secolo
This dissertation provides a thorough reappraisal of Early Byzantine architecture in Albania from the 4th to the 7th century. The aim is to provide an integrated reconstruction of architectural typologies, networks of craftsmen and the cultural dynamics that shaped ancient Epirus. Adopting a comparative approach that combines archaeological analysis, an examination of construction techniques, an assessment of building materials and a study of mosaic floor programmes, the research situates the principal ecclesiastical complexes within the broader Balkan and Adriatic context. This reveals the processes by which architectural models were adapted and circulated. In the absence of updated synthetic studies and given that existing scholarship still largely relies on foundational, albeit now dated, contributions, the dissertation provides a critical synthesis that integrates the results of archaeological investigations conducted over the past few decades. Located at the crossroads between East and West and traversed by strategic routes such as the Via Egnatia, Early Byzantine Albania is a prime location for observing the reinterpretation of architecture and the transmission of models. The analysis examines the main religious buildings recorded in the region, including three-aisled basilicas, single-nave churches and triconch structures, and shows how, while drawing on Balkan and Epirote models, these architectural styles developed formal and constructive solutions adapted to local contexts, available resources and specific functional and liturgical requirements. The resulting picture is of a complex and varied landscape, showing that Albania was not a passive periphery of the Empire, but a dynamic area of cultural reinterpretation. The dissertation is structured into three chapters. The first chapter provides a historical overview of the period between the fourth and seventh centuries, emphasising the significance of the Epirote region as a frontier between East and West. The second chapter provides a systematic analysis of individual buildings, examining their structures, construction techniques, and decorative features. The third chapter offers a comparative synthesis, aiming to define networks of influence and the circulation of craftsmen, as well as defining Albania’s contribution to the Early Byzantine landscape of the eastern Adriatic.